Many times potentially violent situations can be averted with assertiveness. In the scenario described in this blog, much of the “interview” is dispensed with; there was a little chatting, and then things rapidly turned violent when the gang believed that they were in a position of power and that there was nothing to stop them. At that point, my student needed to use a physical technique to end the interaction. Continue

Through the marketing of these products, women are being told we need some kind of external weapon to be successful in resisting an assault. It’s just another way that our bodies are under attack. The message is that we are lacking, insufficient, and weak and must rely on a weapon like pepper spray in the absence of a strong man to protect us. Continue

Contrary to our instinct to hide traumatic experiences, the quickest route to healing from rape is to talk about it– with a friend, a counselor, or even on a hotline. Many years ago, I volunteered on a rape and battering hotline and nearly every call I took ended with the caller saying she felt better just having talked about it. Continue

Often, people get injured in a carjacking not because the perpetrator planned on injuring them but because they were frustrated that the victims didn’t do what they were told to do efficiently enough – in my case: “Leave your purse in the car.” There was nothing in my purse that was worth my life, but I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. Continue

According to rape hotline statistics, rape is the most underreported crime on a national level. Of course, this phenomenon of underreporting holds true on campus life as well for various reasons. Continue

The law stipulates that a person must communicate an “unambiguous yes” to sex and further states that someone cannot give consent if they are drunk or unconscious. This should be obvious, but we know from looking at the statistics that it is not, and there are plenty of assaults against women that occur under these circumstances. Continue

Shame and a cultural investment in women’s poor self-esteem form the ideological pillars of sexual violence against women, making female victims of sexual violence accomplices in their own victimization. Continue

A common concern for teen girls and women is how to effectively respond to being followed on the street. When in this scenario, most women are unaware of the most effective steps to take to deter their attacker. Learn what to do and what not to do to stay safe. Continue